Pros and Cons of an Evil Move in Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3 is known for its fantastic storyline and allowing players the freedom to progress in many different ways. It has been praised countless times for its near infinite replayability, and it is highly unlikely that any player has actually discovered all the secrets the game has to offer. It truly encapsulates the spirit of Dungeons and Dragonswithout any play being truly the same.

This freedom of choice allows players to take a more “evil” path if they wish. Making these choices can have a huge impact on the storyand makes players lose a lot. However, there are also some benefits to going this route.

In an evil playthrough of BG3, characters will typically get more abilities and exclusive cutscenes

An Evil Dark Urge run is one of the most rewarding routes

Although most people play Baldur's Gate 3 trying to make the best choices possible, Larian gives players the option to follow an “evil” path. Since Update 7, There are 13 unique ending scenes for evil runs specific to the player's origin. It should come as no surprise that Dark Urge Origin is the most rewarding path for those who want to go this route, as it also comes with several items and cutscenes that cannot be triggered anywhere else in the game. It is also the only case where players can encounter Scleritas Fel.

Choosing a more morally dubious path could also change some of the key battles. Most players will know this Taking Minthara's side in the Emerald Grove will completely change the direction of the Act 1 storybut there are other cases where players can experience a completely different struggle – especially in Act 2, like when dealing with the aftermath of Isobel's death. Players may also encounter a different lineup of allies later in the game depending on their choices, with some potential characters including the Strange Ox, Aunt Ethel, Loroakan, and Bhaal's forces.

As many players may not be inclined to be intentionally cruel to their favorite characters, Influencing characters towards their “bad” endings brings many gameplay advantages and extra abilities. The most notable example of this is the Dark Urge Slayer form being without a doubt one of the best things to transform into, and Astarion and Shadowheart getting new items and powers while embracing their darker sides. Wyll will also not become a demon and will receive the Infernal Robes armor piece if the player kills Karlach, but this does not compare to what evil characters receive.

True Evil's Plays Lose Many Beloved Characters

Players can lose half of their potential companions in an evil run

Although Larian tries to reward players who attempt an evil route, it's no surprise that many players find them unrewarding. In a run where a player is trying to make as many evil decisions as possible, most of the time they will attack the Emerald Grove, which will cause Karlach and Wyll leave the group permanently for the rest of the game. This means players will miss out on both stories, as well as characters like Mizora, Duke Ravengard, Dammon, and anyone else who might initially be encountered in the woods.

Halsin, and sometimes Jaheria, also cannot be recruited into an entirely evil operationwhich also means that Minsc won't be able to join the party in Act 3 either, as his quest requires Jaheria's presence. The character arcs players are given can feel a little flatter, as they often Baldur's Gate 3 companions are removed from their bad endings throughout their development. While players can recruit Minthara, she has one of the smallest amounts of content and doesn't equate to the five characters that are sure to be lost.

While Dark Urge is perfect for a killer playthrough, many players prefer to go the path of redemption, meaning they'll still be able to access much of Origin's content without committing to an evil playthrough. Although players receive rewards for leading characters to worse endings, there aren't many rewards for evil deeds in general. For example, unless a player specifically wants Minthara's romance scene, there's really no benefit to raiding the grove, as she can be recruited later at the same point in the story anyway.

Are evil moves worth it in Baldur's Gate 3?

Evil moves can be a lot of fun, but they are simply not suitable for most players

Evil plays simply don't have as much to offer as good ones. The “true” evil plays lose too much to really make up for the small plot changes. If players are willing to sacrifice the Minthara Act 1 content, then they are probably better off going down a “betrayal” route. if they want to pursue evil endings, or at least be creative with their story choices, as this will allow them to have all the characters they want in their party, meaning they'll have a better chance of not missing out on certain vendors, NPCs, and dialogue.

It's fun for players to see what happens when they make decisions they would never have considered on their first playthrough, but that curiosity can only take them so far if they want to enjoy the story. However players likely get some of the best loot in the game during an evil run, This represents a huge loss to the narrative. Baldur's Gate 3 Players should definitely try this path out for themselves, but they shouldn't consider it in lieu of a good run, especially if it's their first time playing.

Baldur's Gate 3 it has an incredibly deep storyline that can take players days or weeks to complete, and many people won't want to dedicate that much time to a playthrough they might not enjoy. However, some may choose to make poor decisions for strategic reasons to help complete Tactician or Honor mode, as abilities like Dark Urge's Assassin Form can become the difference between winning a battle or losing a save. At the end of the day, Baldur's Gate 3 allows players to create their own stories, but many feel it lacks evil options.

Source: Baldur's Gate 3/X